Traffic signal



TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Aii omeys Feb. 13, 1940. A. M. LOUNGWAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A iiorneys Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in signals, particularly for street tra'fflc signals and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

5 device of this character embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the visual medium of which the length of time remaining before the signal changes, or the amount of time that has elapsed since the last change, may be ascertained by a pedestrian or vehicle driver. v

Other objects of the invention are to provide a signal of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong,

l5 durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apgo parent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein- 5 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantiaily on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.-

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of another 30 form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a side view of the modified form shown partly in vertical transverse section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the reference numeral 5 designates 5 generally a casing, constructed of metal or other suitable material, having a bottom 6, side walls I, front wall 8, rear wall 9, and top Ill. Electric bulb sockets H are mounted in the casing 5 on the rear wall 9 thereof into which are fitted the 40 electric bulbs l2.

The front wall 8 has therein two windows if and M. The window I! has a green colored lens to indicate go" while the window It has a red colored lens to indicate stop". The bulbs i2 45 and reflectors ii are located behind these windows. A ring of small bulbs i8 surrounds the window l3 and each bulb l6 has a tubular shield ll around it to make the bulbs more visible when lighted in the daytime. The windows l3 and H 50 also have tubular shields l8 projecting from the front side of the casing 5 in order that they may be easily seen in the daytime.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the device is in the form of an attachment 55 which is mounted on a signal lamp.v In accordance with this construction a substantially tubular body portion generally referred to by the reference numeral it has an annular projection 20 which slidably engages the signal window 2| and is held securely thereto by the screws 22. Around the tubular body portion l9 and constructed integrally therewith is a ring of pockets 23 in which are mounted electric sockets 24 carrying electric bulbs 25. The electric sockets 24 extend through the base 26 of the pockets 23 into an annular groove 21 which is closed by an annular cover 28.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the green go window I3 is lighted one of the small electric bulbs I6 is lighted at the same time, and each of the small electric bulbs I6 is lighted progressively until they are all lighted at which time the green go light goes off as well as the small electric bulbs i 8. In this way a pedestrian or vehicle driver can observe the amount of time he has to cross an intersection before the "go light l3 goes off and the stop light It goes on.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A traillc signal comprising a casing having upper and lower windows, the upper window having a green lens and the lower window having a red lens, a series of electric bulbs carried by and positioned outwardly of the casing and surrounding said upper windows, individual tubular shields of uniform diameter for said upper and lower windows and individual shields extending from said casing for said electric bulbs.

2. A traiilc signal comprising a casing having upper and lower windows, the upper window having a green lens and the lower window having a red lens, a series of electric bulbs carried by and positioned outwardly of the casing and surrounding said upper window, and individual tubular shields for said bulbs and windows extending from said casing in spaced relation to each other.

3. A trafllc signal comprising a casing having a window provided with a lens, an annular shield projecting forwardly of the lens, a plurality of lamp accommodating pockets surrounding the shield and lamps carried by the shield and positioned in the pockets.

4. A trafflc' signal comprising a casing having a window provided with a lens, an annular shield projecting forwardly of the lens, a plurality of lamp accommodating pockets surrounding the shield and lamps carried by the shield and positioned in the pocket, said pocket including forwardly projecting tubular shields of relatively small diameter for the individual lamps.

5. A traflic signal comprising a casing having 10 a window provided with a lens, an annular shield projecting forwardly of the lens, a plurality oi. tubular pockets at the peripheral edge of the shield and constituting relatively small lamp shields, the axes of the pocket paralleling the axis of the first named shield, an annular channel rearwardly of the pocket, lamps mounted in the pocket with the base or the lamp projecting into the channel and a. rear cover plate for the channel.

ARTHUR M. LOUNGWAY. 1o 

